Best Linux Distro Privacy/Usability for a mid level user
What do you think is the best linux distro for a user who wants to migrate from windows in terms of privacy, usability and respect for the FOSS spirit?
I’m thinking to give a chance to #ElementaryOS https://elementary.io
I think to start, Mint or Ubuntu is a good choice, it has support for most hardware and will probably run on whatever you install it.
Also something that I think most new Linux users should focus on; instead of distro pick the desktop environment (DE). As a beginner it does not really matter if you use, lets say, a Debian- or Fedora-based distro. Pick a DE that looks pleasing to you maybe GNOME or KDE and take the installation with that DE. Maybe do not start with Arch or Gentoo as they are for more experienced users that already have some Linux experience.
Distros will be way more interesting and important when you got a hold of Linux and you want to explore the differences of them.
Last tip: Make a separated /home directory, so when you want to change to a new distro you do not have to delete all your files and start over with an empty machine.
I wish you a good start into Linux and do not hesitate to ask questions if they arise!
I’d recommend against ubuntu (but not against derivatives of it) because they clearly don’t respect the FOSS spirit with their insistence on snaps.
@Encryption @privacy I’ve discarded Ubuntu due to snapd. Does Linux mint also use snapd? 🤔
Mint helped me a lot when I switched from Windows. I found it very straightforward, as much as that’s possible with Linux
Distro doesn’t really mater that much, desktop environment (de) is a more important choice for a new user.
Comming from windows you might like cinnamon, mate, kde plasma or gnome with ArcPanel and Dash to Dock extensions. There’s also lxqt and xfce for low spec systems.
You can install any de on any distro but if you are new to linux you might want to stick with the default one.
If you want cinnamon or mate go with linux Mint.
For gnome ZorinOS looks decent. I think it comes with wine already set up to make running windows programs easier. If you have an nvidia gpu Pop!_OS comes with nvidia drivers but you’ll probably want some gnome extensions like ArcMenu and Dash to Panel.
Before installing any distro you should try them out in a live usb mode or a virtual machine.
Personally I started with Cinnamon Mint but it had issues with my multi monitor set up and poor gaming performance so now I’m on gnome Pop!_OS with ArcMenu and Dash to Panel on desktop and lxqt lubuntu on laptop.
I switched from windows about a year ago and now I’m absolutely certain I’m never comming back. The first 2 weeks or so are the most difficult because you feel like you have to learn a brand new skill every time you do something basic that would take you 30 seconds in windows but once you have everything set up and are more familiar with how things are done on linux it will feel completely natural.
Good luck on your linux journey, I hope you see it through. :)
Linux mint
@privacy @linux
According to most of the responses so far, Eeementary is not the best choice. So I think I will try #LinuxMint as the first option.
